(c) 1996 Wide Smiles
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Parents' Issues
Day Care
Several Opinions

WIDE SMILES asked the question, "How do (or did) you handle the question of day
care on a regular basis and after surgery?" Many parents responded. The
following answers are representative of the responses given:

"About the day-care question, I am a stay-at-home mother. I feel that the
single greatest thing I can do for my kids is be there for them. It takes longer to
feed my son with his bilateral cleft palate. I know that he is getting all the
nourishment he needs because I am giving it to him. I would always wonder if someone
else would take the time necessary to feed him, or would she just get frustrated and
give up? You never know."

"I had made very careful child care plans while I was pregnant, but after my
son was born the sitter I had chosen backed out on me! She said she didn't want to
take the liability of a "disabled baby". After that I found that it was
nearly impossible to find another day care for my infant because waiting lists were
do long everywhere - and here my baby had a cleft lip to boot! I finally just quit
my job and got a family day care license myself. Now I stay at home with my son, and
I am earning an income too! This is not easy work, but I've found it very rewarding,
I'm happier than I ever was in the work-a-day outside world."

"I don't know what I would do without my family. They have always been so
supportive. I work and must be away from home three days a week. My mother takes
care of my kids for me when I am gone. I know she loves them, clefts and all."

"When Hannah was little I would invite any prospective sitter over to meet her
before I ever left them alone with her. I took the extra time to teach them how to
use the bottles, how to feed her, etc. I found that the sitters were more tan happy
to get the little 'tutorial', and I know I felt better. By the way, I always paid
them for the time they spent learning about Hannah. In the end, I think I had
some of the most enthusiastic baby sitters ever!"

The final count was just about even between those who stay home and those who work
outside the home. The overwhelming consistency was the concern that each parent had
for quality care for their children, wherever they may have found that care.